COS ROGER OP WENDOVER. [A.D. 123'.. ducted her with all honour to the king at Westminster where she appeared before the messengers of the emperor, a lady in her 20th year, beautiful to look upm, adorned with virgin modesty, and distinguished by her royal dress and maimers. After they had refreshed their sight for some time with gazing on the lady, they decided that she was most worthy in all respects of the imperial couch, and confirmed the marriage on the soul of the emperor by oath, presenting her with a wedding ring in his name ; after they had placed it on her finger they proclaimed her empress of Home, all exclaiming, " Long live our empress." They then sent messengers with all ha\ste to inform the emperor of what they had done, who, immediately after Easter, sent the archbishop of Cologne, and the duke of Eouvaine, with a large array of nobles, into England to bring the empress to him with due honour, and to complete the marriage ceremony, in order that it might be consummated. Of the wedding ornaments of the empress and of the nolde preparations. There was such a profusion of ornaments at this marriage that they appeared to surpass kingly wealth ; for the empress herself a crown had been most elaborately constructed out of pure gold adorned with jewels, and on it were carved likenesses of the four martyr and confessor kings of England, to whom the king had especially assigned the care of his sister's soul. She shone forth with such a profusion of rings and gold necklaces, and other splendid jewels, with silk and thread garments, and other like ornaments, which usually attract the gaze and excite the desires of women even to covetoiisness, that they appeared invaluable. With bridal garments of silk, wool, and thread, she was so well supplied, that it was difficult to say which would be most likely to attract the emperor's affections. Her couch was so rich in it-coverlets and pillows of various colours, and the various furniture and sheets made of pure fine linen, that by its softness it would invite those lying in it to a delightful slumber. All the drinking cups and dishes were of the purest gold and silver ; and, what seemed superfluous to every one, all the cooking pots, large and small, were of pure silver. And to take the management and care of all these, some of the attendants of the courts were deputed, and to wait on the empress and her family in kingly custom. Aftor being supplied with these and many other gifts by her brother and receiving a dowry from him, the lady Isabel remained under the care of the bishop of Kxetcr, and Ralph Fitz Nicholas, the king's seneschal, and other nobleman of his household, and attended by noble daines and damsels, who, being all skilled in courtly manners, would suffice to wait on and escort the empress. After he had thus arranged matters the king, on St. John's day, hold a solemn festival before the Latin gate at Westminster in company with the archbishop of Cologne and the emperor's other messengers ; on the day following they all took the road towards tho borough of